A Little Help from Her Friends: Mel & Britney

By
Liz Kelly

The voice of reason? Gibson's 2006 mug shot. (AP)

Some say we're judged by the company we keep. For Britney Spears, there's no place to go but up. After dissolving her K-Federation in 2006, Brit descended to increasingly sketchy circles of companionship (Paris Hilton, the Manny, Sam Lutfi) before hitting social rock bottom with short-term boyfriend Adnan Ghalib, a paparazzo who, it appears, was just in it for the pix and a brief pregnancy scare.

Lately, though, new and improved Brit -- by improved I mean no upskirt shots for at least six months now -- has been spotted keeping counsel with Mel Gibson, the Oscar-winning actor/director whose most memorable line will forever be his "sweet" pet name for a female sheriff. The two have met on several occasions around L.A. and even vacationed together in Costa Rica (with their families) last month. And, last week, the two were again spotted dining together.

What could the two embattled stars -- and former Malibu neighbors -- possibly have to talk about? People magazine says Gibson has volunteered himself to help Spears through her public crisis. But what could Gibson -- who himself never quite recovered from his own career-dampening escapades possibly teach a 26-year-old former teen idol? For answers, I turned to my crack team of Celebritology field agents, who helped me compile the list below.